Arrest made in Arizona FSSP attack June 16, 2014
Posted by Tantumblogo in Basics, Dallas Diocese, disaster, error, foolishness, General Catholic, horror, Latin Mass, martyrdom, priests, sadness, scandals, shocking, sickness, Society.trackback
There are actually numerous updates to make from developments over the weekend, but the most pressing is the release of information from the Phoenix Police Department that a 54 year old Gary Moran has been arrested in connection to the murder of Fr. Kenneth Walker and the brutal beating of Fr. Joseph Terra. Now you have a name to pray for:
PHOENIX – An arrest has been made after a deadly priest attack in Phoenix.
Sources tell ABC15’s Christopher Sign 54-year-old Gary Moran has been arrested in connection to the death of Rev. Kenneth Walker and beating of Rev. Joseph Terra.
Sources said DNA at the scene linked Moran to the attack.
Moran has a criminal past. In 2005 he pleaded guilty to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and burglary charges. He was released from prison on April 26, 2014. [There has got to be question why this guy was released. He was not even out two months before committing another violent felony – and who knows if he might not have perpetrated others in which he did not get caught? Amazing, in a terrible sort of way. I would think assault with a deadly weapon (his chosen MO, it would seem) and burglary might carry more than 8 1/2 years in prison]
The rest of the article is stuff we already know. There is a photo posted of this Gary Moran, and if it really is him, he very much fits the description of a crazed homeless person. He has been in and out of prison since 1989. There very well may be no motive in the crime, just another person who fell into addiction (I strongly suspect) and evil. The vast majority of “homeless” people have huge substance abuse problems, and their unwillingness/inability to deal with those is the driving factor in their being on the streets.
As I said, there were many updates over the weekend. One of the most edifying of which was this very loving tribute to Fr. Walker on the FSSP website. I’m sure it’s already gotten mention on other sites (I haven’t had time to look anywhere since Friday), but FSSP Superior Fr. John Berg’s online eulogy to Fr. Walker is touching:
By now you have read on various news outlets and websites about the virtues of Fr. Walker as a priest and how badly he will be missed by his confreres and parishioners. In an age where we seem so centered upon ‘clerical stars’ and are constantly searching for the ‘newest approach to evangelization’, the life of our confrere gave witness to one of the greatest priestly virtues, a quiet and consistent strength, which is a mark of the Good Shepherd who watches vigilantly over his flock in season and out of season.
He has been described by the parishioners he served in the same manner that he would be by his confreres; he was earnest: he was persevering; he was ready first to serve; nothing ever seemed to inconvenience him. Our Lord’s description of Nathaniel perhaps fits him best: he was a man without guile. He will perhaps be remembered as an example to us as confreres more for what he did not say; one would be hard pressed to find anyone who ever heard him complain or speak badly about anyone. As a former professor of Fr. Walker in the seminary, and as superior, I also knew him as one who took correction well; never pridefully objected; and sincerely sought to improve in all areas of formation both as a seminarian and a later as a priest.
In such tragic circumstances I realize that it can be easy to fall into hyperbole, but there was an innocence to Fr. Walker which is rarely found in this valley of tears.
Much more at the link, including a biography of Fr. Walker.
There is a Requiem Mass for Fr. Walker today at Mater Dei at 12:10 pm.
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A Blog for Dallas Area Catholics 
I believe that Fr. Walker was a virtuous priest from all the information I could gather. It is an abhorrent crime to kill a priest, even more so than a layperson. It is certainly our duty to pray for him and offer Masses as should be done for all the deceased.
But considering that Catholics, and also priests, are victims of persecution and murder in many countries around the world, I see somewhat of a huge imbalance in our attitude. Granted he was a Traditionalist priest of the FSSP and those of us who attend FSSP Masses feel somewhat affected by this. I too followed the news a lot in regard to the crime.
But do our Catholic brethren in the Middle East, among whom probably still are many virtuous priests, receive the same sympathy?
It is likely that Father Walker was saved. For many a Catholic living in Iraq right now, there might be the choice of apostasy placed before him by the Devil…do we support them with our Rosaries and Masses in the same way? Do Fr. Ephrem or Br. Giorgios (fictitious), murdered by Mohammedans, receive one single Requiem Mass from “Western” Catholics?
If so, thanks be to God, if not, I guess there is a lot we have a lot to make up for, myself included.
Many countries where those gruesome mass killings of Christians take place are far away, like Nigeria, Syria, North Corea or Vietnam and Phoenix is a place that many can relate to. But Catholics being murdered in those far-away places are just that, they are Catholics too.
I might take a lot of flak for this but I felt like I had to write this.
RIP Father Walker
Our Lady, Help of Christians, pray for us!
I’ve given this topic extended coverage because Fr. Terra served in Dallas as pastor for 5 years. Hundreds of readers know him very well, and are intensely interested.
However, regarding your point, as a way of charitable rebuttal, I might point out the following from last week:
I post on the persecution of Catholics worldwide about monthly, often more frequently than that.
One thing: Fr. Walker was the member of an order, not simply a diocesan priest. All the members of the Fraternity are required to say a requiem for him. So, there’s that.
If you will scroll back through the blog, I think you will see discussions on the plight of Catholics in the Middle East and Africa. They are not neglected in coverage.
The other priest in the attack was the pastor of the EF parish several of us attend. We either knew him ourselves, or are close to people who knew him. So, yes, this case is more personal.
Your point is a good one, but there are mitigating circumstances.
Tantum, you are obviously some sort of Troglydite throwback, or redneck hate-monger. You have not come to enlightenment and I sense that you may never.
If this gentleman is the perpetrator, he is obviously nonetheless the real victim in all of this. Moreover, 8.5 years for aggravated assault is not unusual. Longer sentences are reserved for those who write bad checks to the MVD, not for those who have a momentary lapse-of-judgement and are themselves victims of the oppressive society in which they live.
Lewis Carroll
It is ‘TROGLODYTE’ or so saith Gary Gygax in my AD&D Monster Manual. 😉
Seriously, thank you tantam, we shall include this name in our rosary prayers.
Yup. I looked it up and STILL got it wrong. Tahnk you!
There is a picture over at Fr. Z’s blog of Fr. Terra at the Requiem Mass for Fr. Walker that was held today in Phoenix.
Fr. Terra is built like a boxer & has the marine-type attitude to go with it. He is one tough cookie. The picture of him brought me to tears.